January 14

 

I am in some type of team-building activity with my coworkers. We are in a grocery store which apparently is closed to others while we are tasked with our activity. There are about 6 of us. We must each select a food item that we believe will feed all of us and that we will all be willing to eat. The rules are we must not speak to each other while we are making our selection in the allotted time and if we run into each other, we must not make eye contact. I select a huge slab of salmon. It is about 2x3 feet, unwrapped, and I am holding it with the tips of my fingers and 2 small pieces of wax paper. I head towards the register where we have to check out our selection (we’re not paying, but we still have to proceed through the checkout). As I approach the register I spot a coworker in my peripheral vision. As directed, I avert my eyes and quicken my steps since the salmon is so unwieldly, it is difficult to hold. I plop it on to the register where it lands with an unpleasant thud. I wonder what the next step is in this activity and hope that it involves a kitchen since I either need to refrigerate or cook this salmon. I begin to regret my choice but we are not allowed to change our minds.